Chapter 11

The sky…a silent perfect observer, a battle ground for a grand aerial spectacular show of epic proportions. Open, never ending, and owned by no one and nothing, it was a soothing satirical backdrop for deadly intentions….intentions Thundercracker had every objective in fulfilling with brutal, unrepentant, savagery.

Having detected the brown camouflaged F-22 Raptor alone in the sky, Thundercracker gloated even more, letting his own "self mirrored conceit" pour out.

The one time Screamer is actually alone and it's my path he crosses! What are the chances of that? Maybe all this 'destiny' jibberish isn't too off after all, Thundercracker marveled.

Seeing the Decepticon leader waste no time in showing what his intentions were, Thundercracker rolled and dodged two Sidewinder missiles, their relative closeness shuddering his cockpit. The human city was in close vicinity down below, their ideal life going on like any other day. The reason behind Starscream choosing these particular coordinates in the sky as his plan of attack was evident.

Banking sharply around, the Raptor relentlessly and methodically pursued, firing round after round of 20mm shells. The Decepticon leader turned and swooped in the air. Getting closer to the grey Seeker in front of him, who dodged everything thrown with agile skillfulness simply unmatched by any human pilot, the ping, ping sound filling the sky like a pinball machine, Thundercracker took off in the opposite direction of where the city lie.

Sorry to burst your inflated ego circuits, but you're not gonna have it both ways, Screamer…trying to kill me and the fleshies...

Not having shook the F-22 from his tail, Thundercracker went for maximum burn, smirking gleefully. Lemme feel ya shudder while I take ya for a ride with the thunder!

Dropping down to 1,000 ft, hitting well past 750 m.p.h. easily, the white vapor cloud emitted behind him in the air from the earth shattering sonic boom that could be felt for a couple miles.

Seeing the human city getting farther and farther away, Thundercracker felt an uncanny slightly relieved assurance set in. Feeling Starscream draw closer, Thundercracker laughed haughtily at the overly easy success of his plan, the Decepticon leader too bent on wanting to slag him to pieces than head back and continue with whatever it was he wanted to do to the human city.

Keep at it, Screamer! Keep following me! Cuz I'm gonna give you something you won't ever see comin'!

Quickly, Thundercracker scanned the ever increasing barren desert land below. No energy signatures. Organic or Cybtertornian. Nothingness. Just natural earth filled space.

Perfect!

And as he saw Starscream transform in the air behind, reaching, his fists ready to start tearing limb from tightened limb, the grey Seeker was anything but pleased.

As grudgingly as he admitted it to himself, Starscream's aerial skills were superior. It was probably the only positive thing to him and even that was debatable.

But today, Thundercracker was going to be the superior one. Too much was riding on it. His destiny demanded it.

It's not happenin' today, Screamer…you ARE NOT pulling me out the sky today! You're gonna play this little game on MY terms!

The desert land turning into rocky canyons, Thundercracker caught sight of a long ago familiar spot where Starscream had once had him kneeling in front of him like a slave. Knowing the best chance to get a clear shot was on the ground without any kind of aerial moves being thrown in, Thundercracker headed there immediately.

"GET BACK HERE TRAITOR!" Starscream yelled behind him.

Suddenly then, Thundercracker's internal sensors started going off.

"Decepticon energy signature detected. Unit 'Skywap' approaching."

By the time I'm done with Screamer, Warp won't know what hit him and I'll be long gone! Thundercracker thought joyously as he dove sharply down into the canyons, Starscream following, the bait being set and reeled in with sheer cunning diligence.

Hitting the dirt ground, Thundercracker felt the spark extractor he had hidden.

Do not fear the unknown, the untouched, for it will lead you to your destiny.

You will be able to return to Cybertron a hero among your own kind.

Thundercracker, you are a hero, don't you see it?

Seeing the Decepticon leader touch down finally in front of him, transforming with a wild hatred gaze in his optics, Thundercracker let out a cold, calculating laugh.

Oh yes, I see it…do I ever! Thundercracker thought.

"That's it traitor! Laugh at your own oncoming death!" Starscream shouted.

Thundercracker grinned wickedly at the Raptor.

This was it.

The moment of destiny fulfilling truth.

Redemption…glory…a sense of absolute purpose…

"Hear that ringing in your auditory circuits, Screamer? Enjoy it because it's the sound of your own destruction!" Thundercracker shouted back.

Grabbing the spark splitter from his subspace, the smooth finished exterior holding deadly circuitry inside, Thundercracker took his arm and hurled it straight for the Raptor's chest. Just as Shockwave's utter assurance had said, the splitter flew through the air, the metal grapplers activated, poking out to attach itself to its target and drive the splitter to its intended goal.

It was beautiful. So very beautiful. Laughing victoriously, Thundercracker detected it…the slight hint of fear encompassing Starscream's face…outright panic induced fear as the Grey Seeker saw the Raptor quickly draw the unwanted conclusion he was not the only one who was capable of building a weapon of destruction either.

Closer. Lightning speed. Deadly accuracy. One of the most lethal weapons ever built…

And as the tip of the splitter was about to hit Starscream's chest, a shadow appeared behind him, a teleportation sneak attack capable by only one Decepticon.

Skywarp.

"NO!!" Thundercracker screamed at the top of his vocal processor, the ultimate nightmare playing out before his optics.

Scoffing defiantly at the F-16, Starscream leapt into the air, dodging the splitter just barely as it continued on its lethal path, barreling itself into Skywarp's chest, tearing through his armor easily and without a care. Not even realizing what had happened, a stunned silence fell over the black Raptor as he looked down at himself, the metal rod embedding itself sadistically.

Enraged, Thundercracker turned around, Starscream hovering above, a look of subtle distress upon him from seeing his second in command being taken out so brutally, only to be quickly turned into an arrogant victorious smirk.

"Hear THAT sound, Thundercracker? That is the sound of your OWN future destruction!" Starscream shouted.

"Watch it, Thundercracker…watch ALL OF IT! Watch as your former best friend dies by your treacherous hands! Make no mistake, the next time we meet, you will know my wrath like no other Cybertronian!"

And as Starscream transformed and flew off, leaving his fallen comrade behind, not so much as giving a backward concerned glance, Thundercracker rushed over to Skywarp.

Having fell to the ground, Skywarp laid on his back, his body convulsing violently from the electric pulses being forced throughout, the spark splitter driving itself deeper and deeper.

"WARP!!" Thundercracker screamed. He scrambled over to him hysterically, trying to grab the splitter out with his hands, pulling and tugging, Skywarp's screams of torturous pain and agony filling the canyons all around.

But from the surge of energy the splitter was creating, Thundercracker was shoved backward, the electric shock making his body tingle and over ride inside. Desperate, the grey Seeker got to his feet again and proceeded to try and pull it out once again, reading the surprise, shock, and hurt filling Skywarp's optics, only to be thrust backward again from the thousands of volts being emitted.

"This wasn't meant for you, Warp! I swear! I swear to Primus it wasn't!" Thundercracker shouted pitifully.

The splitter drove itself all the way through. Unable to stop it, Thundercracker watched helplessly in sickening riveting horror as his former best friend was slowly being taken offline by the very weapon made by his own hands.

And as the grey Seeker saw the whitish blue, light emit from Skywarp's chest, his front chest cavity splitting wide open, his body coming to a sudden rest, Thundercracker knew the weapon had completed its mission with unflinching, unwavering, raw deliberate precision.

…most lethal weapon you will ever encounter…

There will be no stopping it.

…this will be what grants you your destiny…

You have but one opportunity.

Doubling over from the trauma, the dirt beneath him, the earth still and calm, brown liquid out of Thundercracker's mouth, unable to move, the body of his former best friend and brother in arms, lay dead not even a few feet away.

Author's End Notes:

The quote Thundercracker uses, "Hear that ringing in your auditory circuits…" is actually a variation from the toy spec bios. The original reads similar, "The ringing in your ears is the sound of your own destruction."